PALATINE'S STRUGGLE (COMPLETED)

6. MARRIAGE

Surbhi's words were ringing in Supriya's ears. She was trying to ignore but she couldn't. Finally after thinking a lot, she went to Siddharth's room.

Siddharth was doing some work related to kingdom when a pehredaar (gatekeeper) of his room came there. "Rajmata Supriya padhaar rahi hai." he said bowing down. Siddharth signalled him to leave. Siddharth stood up and went to the entrance. Supriya entered. Siddharth touched her feet and took her blessings. Supriya settled down and asked him to sit beside her.

"Maa kuch karya tha to aap hume bula leti. Aapne aane ka kasht kyo kia?" asked Siddharth. "Dekhie Siddharth hume aapse ek bohot awashyak baat krni hai." stated Supriya. "Ji maa. Aadesh kijie." said Siddharth. "Hum aadesh dene wale kon hote hai. Aap to Maharaj hai. Hum aapko kya aadesh denge. Yha to wahi hoga na jo Rajya ke Maharaj aur Maharani chahenge. Kyu Maharaj?" taunted Supriya looking away.

"Maa aap ye kya keh rhi hai?" asked Siddharth shocked. "Sach hi to keh rhe hai. Aap vivah mein deri kyu kr rhe hai? Aapko aapki dharampatni ne bola hoga na." shouted Supriya. "Maa apko aesa kyu lgta hai? Usne humse kuch nhi kha." said Siddharth. "Kuch nhi kha? Wo jo itna tamasha kia. Smita aur Vaishnavi ke saath milkar jo shadiantar rachna chah rhi thi, uska kya?" asked Supriya coldly.

"Maa dekhie hum maante hai usne galat kia. Aur usse bhi apni glti ka ehsaas hai. Aur usne humse nhi kha ki ye vivah mat kro. Hum swayam thoda waqt chahte the. Aur usse bhi thoda waqt chahie ye sab savikaar krne mein." explained Siddharth.

"Aur agar poori zindagi nhi sawikaaregi to?" asked Supriya. "Maa wo samajdaar hai. Samajti hai baato ko. Gusse mein usse glti ho gyi thi. Hum maante hain. Par aap chintit na ho." assured Siddharth.

"To kab krenge aap vivah?" asked Supriya plainly. Siddharth sighed. "Maa hum Avneet ki anumati (permission) ke bina ye vivah nhi krenge. Jab tak vo Rajkumari Sonavee ko dil se nhi swikaaregi hum bhi usse apni patni nhi manenge. Jis din tak Avneet hume ye nhi kahegi Siddharth aap Sonavee se vivah krle hum nhi krenge. Wo hmari pehli patni hai aur uska humari doosri patni ko swikaarna hmare lie awashayak hai." stated Siddharth.

"To krte rho intezaar. Bane rho patni ke gulaam." said Supriya angrily and left. Siddharth sighed.

With Avneet, she was sitting on floor of her room hugging her knees. She was remembering her marriage and when she entered the palace and her and Siddharth's monents. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and it was Vaishnavi.

"Didi aap yha?" asked Avneet getting up. Vaishnavi held her and made her sit on bed. Vaishnavi said beside her. "Kya haal bana lia hai beta apna hnn?" asked Vaishnavi. "Didi wo doosra vivah kr lenge kya? Nhi hum nhi krne denge. Siddharth kewal humare pati hai. Hum kisiko unke paas bhi nhi aane denge." said Avneet breaking down.

Vaishnavi hugged her and rubbed her back. She calmed down after sometime Vaishnavi broke the hug and wiped her tears. She cupped her face and kissed her forhead.

"Dekhe Avneet Siddharth aapke pati the, hai aur hamesha rhenge. Par rajya ke prati bhi unka kuch kartavya hai. Raja aur Rajkumar ko ek se adik vivah krne pdte hai. Pita shri ne bhi to teen vivah kie the. Mata Supriya, Mata Surbhi aur Mata Smita. Aur aapko pta hai Siddharth aapse bohot prem krte hai. Wo aapki anumati ke bina ye vivah nhi krenge. Unhone Abhishek ko bola hai ki jab tak Avneet Sonavee ko savikaar nhi kregi aur mujhse vivah ke lie nhi khegi mein nhi kroonga. Ab aap jitni der krogi unhe utna hi dukh hoga. Mein samajti hu itna saral (easy) nhi hai kintu aapko ye sach savikaar krna hoga ki Sonavee Siddharth ki hone wali patni hai aur hmare pita shri ko iss baat se dukh nhi hoga. Wo samajte hai ek raja ek se adhik patniya hoti hai. Siddharth aapka bohot samaan krte hai aur unhe poorn vishwaas hai ki unki Avneet bohot samajdaar hai aur wo iss rishte ke lie jald tyaar ho jaenge. Unke vishwaas ko tootne nhi dena." explained Vaishnavi.

"Didi hum thoda samay akele rehna chahte hai." said Avneet looking down. Vaishnavi nodded and left her. Avneet was lost in her thoughts.

At dining table, all were sitting except the daughter-in-laws. Avneet was about to serve food in Supriya's plate but she stopped her showing her hand. Avneet felt hurt. Her eyes became teary but she blinked them to stop the tears. Siddharth noticed everything but couldn't say anything. Vaishnavi squeezed her hand. Surbhi was smirking looking all this. Abhishek, Nihar, Ridham and Priya felt bad.

Vaishnavi, Anushka and Sonavee served the food. All ate it some happily, some unwillingly. After dinner, Siddharth went to check on Avneet. He saw Avneet standing in balcony with tears rolling down her cheeks. He went near her. She didn't sense his presence. He put a hand on his shoulder. She quickly wiped her tears but no use. He turned her towards himself and cupped her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. He shooked his head and pulled her in his embrace. She cried burying her head in his chest. He tightened his grip over her. They both were missing each other in all these days. She calmed down and slowly looked up at him without breaking the hug.

"Siddharth aapne abhi tak Rajkumari Sonavee se vivah kyu nhi kia?" asked Avneet. She knew the answer but wanted to listen from his mouth. "Aap jo rooth kr bethi ho. Aapke bina ye vivah nhi ho skta. Jab tak aap hume anumati nhi dogi hum vivah kaise kr skte hai?" asked Siddharth. "Parantu patnio ki manzoori kabse zaroori hone lagi? Wo bhi Maharaj ke lie?" asked Avneet hiding her small smile.

"Mein baki Raja Maharaja ke baare mein to nhi janta. Parantu mere lie meri Maharani jab tak ijazzat nhi degi mein koi karya nhi kroonga aur doosra vivah to kbhi bhi nhi." stated Siddharth. "Agar hum na ijazzat de to? Aap Rajkumari Sonavee ko wapis bhej denge kya?" asked Avneet.

"Avneet dekho hum pehle bhi bol chuke hai ye Rajkumari Sonavee aur Maharaj Sumedh ka apmaan hai. Aur hmare Rajya ka bhi. Aur hum jaante hai kisi aur ka ya apne Rajya ka apmaan kbhi nhi hone dengi. Hum aapko waqt de skte hai Rajkumari Sonavee ko savikaarne ke lie." explained Siddharth.

"To kar lijie Rajkumari Sonavee se vivah. Hum unhe aapki doosri patni ke roop mein savikaar krte hai." stated Avneet. "Aap kisike dabaav mein to nhi bol rhi?" asked Siddharth. Avneet shooked her head. "Hume iss baat ki prasanta hai ki aapke lie hmari anumati itni mayene rkhti hai." said Avneet.

Siddharth hugged her tightly. "Hum jante the aap hmari baat zaroor samajhegi. Aur yaad rkhna aap hmari pehli patni, hmara pehla prem ho. Jo sthan aapka hmare hrday mein hai wo kbhi kam nhi hoga." said Siddharth. They spent their beautiful night together.

Next day, Siddharth announced in the family he was ready for marriage. Supriya and Surbhi were extremely happy. Siddharth looked at Avneet. She smiled sadly. Sonavee was blushing. "Ab hum bhi saas bnenge." exclaimed Surbhi happily. All chuckled at her excitement. Abhishek and Ridham gave teasing looks to Nihar. He blushed.

Supriya invited Kulguru that day itself to tell the most auspicious day for marriage. All big kings were invited. Special invitation was sent to Sumedh, Vaishnavi and Avneet's father and Tisha's father. A lot of arrangements were done for royal weddings. Whole kingdom was celebrating in happiness. After their king's death, this was day they were wholeheartedly happy.

All the rituals were performed and both couples were tied in a knot. Avneet was smiling hiding her pain.

End of Chapter...

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Word count: 1318